Jewish Studies

Overview

The Jewish Studies program at the Smith College provides students with the flexibility to pursue their interests and the rigor to emerge as confident thinkers, analysts and creators of culture.

Jewish studies draws on the most important disciplines of the humanities and social sciences in order to provide an interdisciplinary understanding of the Jewish contribution to civilization. Students from the sciences and engineering often enroll in our program as a way to enrich their liberal arts education. Students have opportunities to work closely with committed faculty in special studies at the advanced level, to develop close mentoring relationships and to expand their knowledge through study abroad. Many go on to pursue graduate studies in law, medicine, literature, history, religious studies, education, community service and other professions.

Learning Goals

The program in Jewish studies expects students to graduate with an understanding of the religious, historical, political and cultural forces that have shaped Jewish civilization for more than 3,000 years. 

This includes the ability to:

• Frame questions and situate core texts and ideas in their appropriate intellectual, social and cultural contexts.

• Analyze and critique religious, historical, philosophical, political, literary and artistic texts, ideas and materials pertaining to Jewish experiences through the ages.

• Acquire knowledge of the diversity of Jewish culture through time and space, with a specific understanding of the interactions between Jews and co-territorial cultures, peoples, empires and states.

• Think about the ways in which Jewish studies contributes to, broadens and challenges important conceptual approaches in humanistic studies, engaging with questions related to such issues as nationalism and transnationalism, diaspora and globalization, multilingualism and translation, majority-minority relations, race, gender and sexuality, etc.

• Attain beginning competency in a Jewish language.

• Be confident thinkers, analysts and creators of culture.